The sixth KSCLA international conference on ‘Paradigms of digital library, e-resources, open access and information and media literacy’ began here on Friday with the speakers highlighting the need for evolving methods to bring back readers to libraries.
The two-day conference has been organised by the Karnataka College Librarians’ Association (KSCLA), Bengaluru, and KLE Technological University, Hubballi, at BVB College of Engineering and Technology.
Inaugurating the conference, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, Jagadish Shettar, emphasised the significance of libraries and reading in personality development. Referring to the advent of the new media, he stressed the need for evolving methods to attract readers to libraries.
Releasing the proceedings of the conference, Dharwad MP and BJP State unit president Pralhad Joshi highlighted the need for adapting to the changes to make libraries compatible to the needs of younger readers.
Referring to the ‘Digital India’ campaign initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mr. Joshi called on librarians to come out with recommendations to address the issues concerning digital libraries so that the elected representatives could take it up with the policy makers. He also sought to know whether there was any need for amending the Copy Rights Act further.
Concurring with him, the former Minister and Basavaraj Horatti called on librarians to deliberate on the problems and challenges before them and come out with suggestions. “Make sure that students come to the libraries regularly,” he said. S.V. Sankanur, MLC, pointed towards the lack of staff for maintaining libraries in the government and aided PU colleges in the State and demanded that the State government initiate a recruitment process at the earliest.
Director of Department of Public Libraries Satishkumar Hoasamani spoke on the initiatives taken by his department while Director of KLE Society Shankaranna Munavalli presided over the inaugural ceremony.
Director of the conference Suresh Jange briefed about the activities of the KSLCA and organising secretary Mahesh Horakeri welcomed the gathering.
‘College libraries in the electronic environment’ written by Mahesh Horakeri and others, ‘Paradigms of stock inventory libraries’ by Ashok Y. Asundi, ‘Granthalya Vargikarana’ by Ningappa Arabagond and IJLIT Journal Special Issue were released by the dignitaries. Over 300 delegates from various states have participated in the two-day conference.
Make libraries compatible to the needs of younger readers: MP